Review controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat meat and poultry products: An overview of outbreaks, current legislations, challenges, and future prospects

Listeriosis is a sporadic foodborne disease but with a high fatality. Ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and poultry products (MPPs) are the major associated food vehicles. The consumption of RTE-MPPs products is rapidly increasing due to the modern fast-paced lifestyle. Contamination of Listeria monocytogenes would create a human health crisis and an economic loss. This review aimed to provide an update overview of a potential listeriosis outbreak linked to RTE-MPPs in selected countries and regions, as well as the evolution of RTE food regulations correspondingly. The state-of-the-art biocontrol strategies were emphasized, and the current challenges and future prospects were proposed. The incidence and scale of a listeriosis outbreak linked to RTE-MPPs can be reduced, by implementing an effective control of the pathogens in RTE-MPPs due to the joint efforts of gradually reinforced regulations and legislations, more advanced detection techniques, and a well-established national surveillance network in developed countries and regions. This review highlights the recent progress in the bio-control of biofilms formed by Listeria monocytogenes, specifically in the field of inhibitory interaction with other functional microbials and enzyme-based removal strategies. The current challenges that we are facing in the field were summarized, though a proposed efficient and eco-friendly anti-biofilm strategy research and development would require an interdisciplinary cooperation of advanced bio-based technologies.